Letter 49: I thanked the Holy God when I read your letter, most pious brother. I pray that I may not be unworthy of the expectations you have formed of me, and that you will enjoy a full reward for the honour which you pay me in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I was exceedingly pleased to hear that you have been occupied in a matter eminently becoming a...

To Arcadius the Bishop. I thanked God when I received your letter, for two reasons: first, because I heard from you at all after so long a silence, and second, because the content of your letter revealed a soul in good health. To hear that a brother bishop stands firm in the faith during times like these is no small comfort. The pressures you describe are real, and I won't pretend they aren't. The Arian party [Christians who followed Arius's teaching that the Son was less than the Father; in the 370s, the Emperor Valens was an Arian and was actively persecuting Nicene bishops in the East] has the ear of the powerful, and those who refuse to compromise are paying a serious price. But that is exactly the kind of test that proves what a man actually believes. Endure it. The churches that are watching you will be strengthened by your example. Write to me again when you can. Even in difficult times — perhaps especially in difficult times — knowing that a friend is holding firm somewhere is worth a great deal.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To Arcadius the Bishop. I thanked the Holy God when I read your letter, most pious brother. I pray that I may not be unworthy of the expectations you have formed of me, and that you will enjoy a full reward for the honour which you pay me in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I was exceedingly pleased to hear that you have been occupied in a matter eminently becoming a Christian, have raised a house to the glory of God, and have in practical earnest loved, as it is written, the beauty of the house of the Lord, and have so provided for yourself that heavenly mansion which is prepared in His rest for them that love the Lord. If I am able to find any relics of martyrs, I pray that I may take part in your earnest endeavour. If the righteous shall be had in everlasting remembrance, I shall without doubt have a share in the good fame which the Holy One will give you.

[Πρός: Ἀρκαδίῳ ἐπισκόπῳ] Ηὐχαρίστησα τῷ ἁγίῳ Θεῷ, γράμμασιν ἐντυχὼν τῆς εὐλαβείας ὑμῶν, καὶ εὔχομαι αὐτός τε τῆς ἐλπίδος, ἣν ἔχετε ἐφʼ ἡμῖν, ἄξιος εἶναι, καὶ ὑμᾶς τὸν ἐπὶ τῇ τιμῇ ἡμῶν, ἣν ἐπὶ τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ Κυρίου Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ τιμᾶτε ἡμᾶς, μισθὸν τέλειον κομίσασθαι. ὑπερήσθημεν δέ, ὅτι καὶ μέριμναν πρέπουσαν Χριστιανῷ ἀναλαβόντες, εἰς δόξαν τοῦ ὀνόματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ οἶκον ἠγείρατε, καὶ ἠγαπήσατε τῷ ὄντι, κατὰ τὸ γεγραμμένον, Εὑπρέπειαν οίκου Κυρίου, εὐτρεπίσαντες ἑαυτοῖς τὴν οὐράνιον μονὴν τὴν ἡτοιμασμένην ἐν τῇ ἀναπαύσει τοῖς ἀγαπῶσι τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Χριστοῦ. ἐὰν δὲ δυνηθῶμεν περινοῆσαι λείψανα μαρτύρων, εὐχόμεθα καὶ αὐτοὶ συμβαλέσθαι ὑμῶν τῇ σπουδῇ. εἰ γὰρ εἰς μνημόσυνον αἰώνιον ἔσται δίκαιος, κοινωνοὶ ἐσόμεθα, δηλονότι, τῆς ἀγαθῆς μνήμης τῆς δοθησομένης ὑμῖν παρὰ τοῦ ἁγίου.